2019 Alpina XD7 Spied Testing: The Diesel SUV Gets 50 Horses Extra

In case you think that the camouflage hides a facelifted version of BMW’s X7 M SUV, think again, because the vehicle comes from a totally opposite direction. The license plate of the prototype has the OAL lettering, which means it comes from the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany. For those that don’t know, Alpina’s headquarters are located there.

So, this is not the refreshed BMW X7 M. No, you are actually looking into the new and hot 2019 Alpina XD7. The impressive diesel-powered SUV is reportedly testing an updated engine, which should bring the new XD7 a title of the most powerful oil-burner available. Currently, the first place is reserved for the Audi SQ7 TDI that’s capable of delivering 435 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. Today’s Alpina XD7 uses a 3.0-liter inline-six quad-turbo diesel engine that pumps out 394 horsepower (294 kilowatts) and 560 pound-feet (760 Newton-meters) of torque. This update will allegedly add at least 50 horsepower (37 kW) to the existing figure and thus enable a 0-60 mph sprint below 5.4 seconds.

The automaker will definitely make some tweaks on the suspension system, but we don’t know the details at the moment. There is a really big chance that the prototype features a rear steering system. This is not confirmed by the manufacturer, though. It’s something we’ve spotted on the prototype. If you take a closer look, you will notice that when the SUV hits the corners, the rear wheels are turning in the same direction as the front axle.

The camouflage is not there to hide the update engine, of course. No, it hides an updated exterior treatment of the 2019 Alpina XD7. The hot flagship will most probably get a special treatment that includes a little bit sharper bumpers and quad exhaust tips. The automaker will not miss the chance to add typical multi-spoke wheels, as well as some new details inside.

According to our sources, the updated Alpina XD7 SUV will become available next summer.